Geoffrey Chaucer

“ If, in the latter case, the italic letter 'a' follows the number of the line, the reference is to the earlier (or A-text) of the Prologue to the Legend. Thus 'HF. 865' means 'House of Fame, line 865.' Again, 'L. 2075' means 'Legend of Good Women, line 2075'; and 'L. 200 a' means 'Legend, &c., line 200 of the text in the upper part of the page.'
The Prologue and the two books of the Treatise on the Astrolabe (in vol. iii.) are denoted, respectively, by 'A. pr.', 'A. i.', and 'A. ii.' Thus, under 'Abate', the reference 'A. ii. 10. 8' means 'Astrolabe, bk. ii. § 10, line 8'; and 'A. pr. ”

“ Mahn, the following—'Zedoary, n. (F. zédoaire, Prov. zeduari, Ital. zedoario, zettovario, Span. and Port. zedoaria, zodoaria, Low Lat. amomum zedoaria, Ger. zitwer, O.H. Ger. zitawar, Arab. Pers. Hind. djedwâr) a medicinal substance obtained in the East Indies, having a fragrant smell, and a warm, bitter, aromatic taste, used in medicine as a stimulant. "It is the root of a species of Curcuma, and comes in short, firm pieces, externally of a wrinkled, gray, ash-coloured appearance, but within of a brownish-red colour. ”

“ A large number of references are given, but they are by no means exhaustive. I have tried to include nearly all words to which any interest is likely to be attached. In the case of verbal forms, every form is duly parsed. ”

“ Besides s., adj., and adv., for substantive, adjective, adverb,, the following are used in a special sense:—v., a verb in the infinitive mood; ger., gerund; pr. s., present tense, 3rd person singular; pr. pl., present tense, 3rd person plural. Other persons are denoted by the figures 1 or 2.
The etymology of words is given occasionally, in the case of some of the more difficult words. Languages are cited in the usual manner, as A.F. for Anglo-French, O.F. for Old French, A.S. for Anglo-Saxon, and the like. ”

“ Ascendent, s. ascendant, A 417, B 302, D 613; Assendent, A. ii. 3. 24, 4. 1; Ascendentes, pl. HF. 1268. The 'ascendant' is that degree of the ecliptic which is rising above the horizon at a given moment. ”

“ Descencioun, s. descension, A. ii. 4. 34; Discencioun, ii. 4. 35. The technical signification seems to be—the 'house' or portion of the sky just above the western horizon, so that a planet in his descension is about to set.
Descende, v. descend, R. 1399; 1. 92; Descendeth, pr. s. is derived, B 4. p 2. 152; results, B 5. p 6. 164; descends, T. v. 859; Descending, pres. part. A 3010; Descended, pt. s. was descended, T. v. 1480; pp. R. 1575.
Descensories, s. pl. G 792. 'Descensories, vessels used in chemistry for extracting oils per descensum' ”

“ Corpus, the body (e. g. of Christ) , B 3096; corpus Dominus, false Latin for corpus Domini, the body of the Lord, B 1625; Corpus Madrian (see note) , B 3082; Corpus bones, an intentionally nonsensical oath, composed of 'corpus domini,' the Lord's body, and 'bones,' C 314. See the note.
Correccioun, s. correction, A 2461, I 60; fine, D 1617.
Correcte, ger. to correct, 8. 6; Corecte, T. v. 1858.
Corrumpable, adj. corruptible, A 3010.
Corrumpe, v. corrupt; Corrumpeth, pr. s. becomes corrupt, A 2746 n., L. 2237 (see note) ; Corompen, pr. pl. refl. become corrupt, B 3. p 11. 103; Corrumped, pt. s. ”

“ Ark, s. arc, referring to the arc of the horizon extending from sunrise to sunset, B 2 (see note) ; daily course of the sun, E 1795; arc, the apparent angular distance passed over by the sun in a day and a night, A. ii. 7. 7; Arch (the same) , A. ii. 9. 2; Arches, pl. arcs, A. ii. 7. 9.
Arm, s. arm, A 111, 158; Arm in arm, T. ii. 823, 1116, 1725; Armes, pl. arms (an oath) , D 833; arms, 3. 953; T. iii. ”

“ Arabic muqantarah, a solar quadrant, or sun-dial; pl. muqantarāt, circles parallel to the horizon; from qantara, he bent.
Almighty, adj. 1. 1.
Almost, adv. almost, A 155, 894; Almest, B 3. p 2. 52; B 1948.
Almury, s. the 'denticle' or tooth-like point or pointer situate on the Rete near the 'head' of Capricorn, A. i. 23. 1. Arabic al-mur'ī, the indicator.
Aloes, pl. aloe, in comp. ligne-aloes, T. iv. 1137. (Aloes is a pl., not a gen. case here; see Aloe in the New E. Dict.)
A-lofte, adv. aloft, up, T. i. 922; on high, T. v. 259.
A-londe, adv. on land, ashore, L. 2166 ”

“ Aspectes, pl. L. 2597; T. ii. 682, iii. 716; A. ii. 4. 31. An 'aspect' is the angular distance between two planets. The principal aspects are five, viz. conjunction, sextile, quartile, trine, and opposition, corresponding to the angular distances 0°, 60°, 90°, 120°, and 180°, respectively.
Aspen, adj. belonging to an aspen-tree; or s. an aspen, T. iii. 1200 n. (An adjectival form.)
Aspen-leef, s. leaf of an aspen tree, D 1667.
Aspre, adj. sharp, bitter, T. iv. 827, 847, 1501, v. 265; B 4. p 4. 186, p 5. 23; vexatious, B 3. p 8. 12; cruel, B 2. p 8. 23; fierce, hardy, 7. 23 ”

“ Artificial, adj. A. ii. 7. rub.; B 2. The day artificial is the length of the day, from the moment of sunrise to that of sunset.
Artik, arctic, northern, A. i. 14. 6, A. ii. 22. 2.
Artow, art thou, A 1141, 3157, B 102, 308, 1885, 3195 ”

“ Direct, adj. directed, addressed, 18. 75; direct, A. ii. 35. 11; in directe, in a line with, A. ii. 44. 10. A planet's motion is direct when it moves in the same direction as the sun in the zodiac.
Directe, 1 pr. s. dedicate, address, T. v. 1856.
Dirk, adj. obscure, A ii. 6. 13. ”

“ I do no cure, I care not, L. 152; lyth in his cure, depends on his care for me, L. 1176; did his besy cure, was busily employed, 5. 369; his lyves cure, the object of his thoughts always, 4. 131; honest cure, care for honourable things, C 557; in cure, in her power, B 230; Cures, pl. endeavours, B 3. p 2. 3; cares, pursuits, E 82.
Cure, v. heal, cure; Cureth, pr. s. 10. 36; Curen, pr. pl. T. ii. 1580; Cured, pp. T. i. 758.
Curiositee, s. curious workmanship, HF. 1178; intricacy, 18. 81; overdaintiness, epicurism, I 829.
Curious, adj. ”

“ Dignitee, s. worth, B 1. p 4. 178; dignity, 14. 5; C 701, 782; A. ii. 4. 31; rank, E 470; Dignetes, pl. A. pr. 77. Dignity, in astrology, signifies the advantages which a planet has when in a particular position in the zodiac, or in a particular position with regard to other planets (Bailey) .
Dilatacioun, s. diffuseness, B 232.
Diligence, s. H 141.
Diligent, adj. T. iii. 144; L. 70; A 483.
Diluge, s. deluge, I 839; Diluve, I 839 n; Delúge, 16. 14.
Dim, adj. indistinct, A 2433; Dimme, pl. dim, T. ii. 908. ”

“ Beestes, pl. animals, R. 895; B 3. p 3. 1; Bestes, pl. beasts, B 3363, E 201, 572, 683; animals, 5. 86; cattle, C 361, 365; animals (in the constellations or in the zodiacal signs) , HF. 932, 965; A. i. 21. ”

“ Dragges, pl. digestive sweetmeats, A 426 n (in MS. Harl. only; other MSS. have drogges) . See Drogges.
Dragoun, s. dragon, B 4. m 7. 24; L. 1430, 1581; B 3291, D 776, G 1435; Dragon, I 195; tail of the dr., the Dragon's tail, A. ii. 4. 23: the point where a planet (esp. the moon) passed from the northern to the southern side of the ecliptic. (The opposite node was called the Dragon's Head.)
Drake, s. drake, mallard, 5. 360; L. 2450; A 3576.
Drank; see Drinke.
Drasty, adj. filthy, worthless, B 2113, 2120. Cf. A.S. dresten, dærstan, dregs; M.E. drestys, lees (in Prompt. Parv.) . ”

“ A 22; courage, B 1970, 3836; will, desire, B 2713, 4642, E 907; soul, B 4. p 4. 31; passions, B 3. m 5. 1; impetuosity, I 655; strength (Lat. robur) , B 1. p 2. 5; savage nature, B 3. m 2. 10; attention, H 164; spite, R. 151; encouragement, R. 22; of his c., in his disposition, F 22; Corages, pl. dispositions, B 4. p 6. 134; natures, A 11.
Córageous, adj. bold, courageous, T. v. 800 ”

“ Declynen, pr. pl. possess declination (by passing to the N. or S. of the ecliptic) , A. ii. 17. 29; turn from, B 4. p 7. 32.
Declyninge, adj. sloping, B 5. m 1. 11.
Decoped, pp. lit. 'cut down'; hence, pierced, cut in openwork patterns, R. 843. In Rock's 'Church of our Fathers' mention is made of such shoes, stamped, or 'windowed,' shewing the stocking through. See note to A 3318.
Decree, s. decree, A 640; Decrets, pl. B 1. p 4. 114.
Dede, deed; see Deed.
Dède, dead; see Dèèd.
Dède, ger. to grow dead, become stupefied, HF. 552; Dedid, pp. made dead, B 4. p 4. 103 n. ”

“ As to, with reference to, F 107; As to my wit, as it seems to me, 5. 547.
As, s. an ace, B 3851; Ambes as = double aces, B 124.
Asay; see Assay.
Ascape, v. escape; Ascapen, pr. pl. B 4. p 4. 88.
Ascaunce, as if, perhaps, G 838 (see note) ; in case that, L. 2203; Ascaunces, as if, D 1745; as if to say, T. i. 205, 292. Compounded of E. as, and O.F. quanses, as if (Godefroy) .
Ascencioun, s. ascension, ascending degree, A. ii. 26. 5; B 4045; rising up, G. 778; Assensiouns, pl. A. ii. 26. 2.
Ascende, v. ascend, rise (a term in astrology) , I 11; Ascended, pt. s. rose above the horizon, A. ii. 40. ”

“ Armes, pl. arms, weapons, 7. 1; Man of armes, valiant man-at-arms, T. ii. 631; coat-of-arms, A 1012.
Arm-greet, adj. thick as one's arm, A 2145.
Armholes, s. pl. A. i. 21. 53.
Arminge, s. arming, putting on of armour, B 2037.
Armipotente, adj. powerful in arms, A 1982, 2441.
Armlees, adj. armless, without an arm, B 3393.
Armoniak, adj. ammoniac; applied to bole, G 790, and sal, G 798. It is a corruption of Lat. armeniacum, i.e. Armenian, belonging to Armenia; see notes.
Armonye, s. harmony, 3. 313, 5. 63, 191; HF. 1396; T. v. 1812.
Armure, s. defensive armour, 4. 130; R. 1271 ”

“ A-lyve, alive, R. 866; 3. 915, 10. 32; A 2698, E 139. For on lyve, in life; hence orig. an adv.; but also used as adj.
Am, am, A 1131, E 838; in phr. it am I = it is I, B 1109.
Amadrides, hamadryads, A 2928.
Amalgaming, s. the formation of an amalgam, G 771. An amalgam is a pasty mixture of mercury with other substances (properly with a metal) .
Amase, v. amaze; Amased, pp. G 935.
Amaye, v. to dismay; A-mayed, pp. dismayed, T. i. 648, iv. 641. O.F. amaier = esmaier, to dismay; cf. Ital. smagare.
Ambages, pl. ambiguous words, T. v. 897.
Ambassiatours, pl. ambassadors, T. iv. 140 n.
Ambel, s. ”

“ Canel-boon, s. collar-bone (lit. channel-bone, with reference to the depression in the neck behind the collar-bone) , 3. 943.
Canelle s. cinnamon, R. 1370. See Canel in the New E. Dict.
Canevas, s. canvas, G 939. F. canevas.
Cankedort. s. state of suspense, critical position, T. ii. 1752.
Canon, s. the 'Canon,' the title of a book by Avicenna, C 890 (see the note) ; rule, explanation, A. pr. 68; Canoun, a canon, table, A. ii. 32. 3.
Canstow, 2 p. s. pr. knowest thou, A. pr. 20; canst thou, T. iv. 460; B 632, C 521. See Can. ”

“ Bereth hir, comports herself, T. ii. 401; Berth hir on hond, bears false witness against her, B 620; Bereth him on hond, accuses him, I 505; Sickly berth, take ill, dislike, E 625; Bere, pr. pl. 3. 894; Bere, 2 pt. s. barest, T. iv. 763; didst carry, B 2. p 3. 46; Bare, barest, E 1068; L. 2229; Bar, pt. s. bare, carried, A 105, 158, 558, B 3083, 4569, G 221, 1264; 3. 196; possessed, D 997; pt. s. refl. conducted himself, T. iii. 490; Bar on honde, made him believe, D 575; Bar her on honde, brought against her a charge which he feigned to believe, 7. 158; Ber, pt. s. ”

“ Conferme, v. confirm, T. ii. 1526; ger. T. ii. 1589; Confirme, ger. B 4. p 7. 61 (but an error for conforme; Lat. 'conformandae') ; Cónferme, 1 pr. s. confirm, E 1508; Confermed, pp. decreed, A 2350; confirmed, firm, C 136; Confermeth, imp. pl. strengthen, 4. 20.
Confessioun, s. confession, T. ii. 528; A 221, I 108; Confession, I 114.
Confiteor, 'I confess,' I 386.
Confiture, s. composition, C 862. Fr. confiture, a mixture, preserve, from confire, to preserve, pickle; Lat. conficere, in late sense of to 'make up' a medicine. ”

“ Coltish, adj. like a colt, E 1847.
Columbyn, adj. dove-like, E 2141.
Colver (kulver) , s. dove, L. 2319. A.S. culfre.
Comaunde, v. command, T. i. 1057, v. 1413; A 1695; Comaunded, pt. s. commanded, B 4270; Cómaunded, L. 1091.
Comaundement, s. commandment, A 2869; order, E 649; Commaundement, command, HF. 2021.
Comaundour, s. commander, B 495.
Comb, s. comb, HF. 136; (of a cock) , B 4049.
Combred, pp. encumbered, B 3. m 10. 6.
Combre-world, s. one who encumbers the world, one who lives too long, T. iv. 279.
Combust, pp. burnt, G 811; quenched (as being too near the sun) , A. ii. 4. 33; T. iii. ”

“ Burel, adj. rough, unlettered, F 716; lay (people) , D 1872, 1874. The idea is that of a man dressed in burel, or coarse woollen cloth. See Borel.
Burgeys, s. burgess, citizen, T. iv. 345; A 369, 754.
Burgh, s. borough; Burghes, pl. D 870.
Burie, v. bury; Buried, pp. 2. 14; Burieth, imp. pl. E 571; Bury, 2 pr. pl. subj. 3. 207.
Buriels, s. pl. burial-places, i.e. the Catacombs, G 186. Originally buriels as the singular form of the sb. (see the note) .
Burne, v. burnish; Burned, pp. burnished, A 1983, B 4054, F 1247; polished, HF. 1387; lustrous, C 38. See Borne.
Burnet, adj. ”

“ L. 705; ger. HF. 632; Ake, pr. pl. ache, T. iii. 1561; Aken, pr. pl. B 2113.
Aketoun, s. a short sleeveless tunic, worn under the hauberk, B 2050. Fr. hoqueton, O.Fr. auqueton, a cloak, a stuff for cloaks; originally alqueton, Span. alcoton, Arabic al-qūtun, where al is the article, and qūtun is our cotton.
Akinge, s. aching, pain, T. i. 1088.
Aknowe, v.; Aknowe, pp. conscious; am aknowe, I acknowledge, B 1. p 4. 109, B 4. p 4. 1.
Akornes, s. pl. acorns, fruits, B 4. m 3. 19. See Acorns.
Al, adj. all, A 10; Alle, pl. all, A 26, 53; Al, every, R. 1586; as s. everything, T. iii. 1764 ”

“ Blosmy, adj. blossoming, T. ii. 821; full of buds or blossoms, 5. 183; E 1463.
Blotte, s. blemish, defect, fault, I 1010.
Blowe, v. blow, A 565; 3. 345; Blowen, pr. pl. A 2512; Blew, pt. s. 3. 182; L. 1364; (it) blew, T. iii. 678; Blowen, pp. proclaimed by trumpets, A 2241; Blowe, pp. blown, L. 1365, 1383; filled with wind, G 440.
Blundre, v.; Blundreth, pr. s. runs heedlessly, G 1414; 1 p. pl. pr. Blondren, we fall into confusion, we confuse ourselves, become mazed, 670.
Blynde; see Blinde.
Blythe, adj. blithe, fain, A 846; joyful, glad, happy, R. 811; 7. 225 ”